Image processing device, image processing method and remote-scan image processing system using the same

ABSTRACT

In the image processing device, method and system of the present invention, a destination identifier of an image file is stored, the destination identifier indicating one of a plurality of external stations as a destination station which receives the image file from the image processing device through a network. At least one of a sender identifier of the image file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan condition of the image file is stored. The image file is transmitted, together with at least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and the scan condition, through the network to one of the external stations indicated by the stored destination identifier.

This application is a DIV of Ser. No. 14/057,869 Oct. 18, 2013 which isa DIV of Ser. No. 13/737,455 Jan. 9, 2013 U.S. Pat. No. 8,599,420 whichis a DIV of Ser. No. 13/302,377 Nov. 22, 2011 U.S. Pat. No. 8,379,272which is a DIV of Ser. No. 12/621,162 Nov. 18, 2009 U.S. Pat. No.8,248,663 which is a DIV of Ser. No. 11/557,774 Nov. 8, 2006 U.S. Pat.No. 7,649,644 which is a DIV of Ser. No. 09/814,705 Mar. 23, 2001 U.S.Pat. No. 7,139,102.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing device and methodfor use in a remote-scan image processing system wherein image data,read from documents by using a scanner unit (or a digital still cameraor a video camera) of the image processing device, are transmitted fromthe image processing device to an external computer among a plurality ofexternal computers across a network. Further, the present inventionrelates to a remote-scan image processing system using the imageprocessing device and method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, the wide-spread use of personal computers (PC) andlocal area networks (LAN) makes it possible that a remote-scan imageprocessing system transmit image data, read from documents by using ascanner unit (or a video camera or a digital still camera), from animage processing device to a desired external computer (the destination)among a plurality of external computers across a local area network.

When transmitting an image file from the image processing device to thedestination (the desired one among the plurality of personal computers)in a small-office LAN environment, there is a case in which the receiverworkstation is the same as the sender workstation. When transmitting afax to a desired external station, the receiver which receives the faxis normally external equipment outside the LAN, and it is necessary thatthe identification of the sender be included in the transmitted fax, inorder to inform the receiver who has sent the fax.

If an image file is transmitted to the receiver's PC without indicationof the sender's identification or the like, it is inconvenient to thereceiver, and the purpose of the transmission of the image file in sucha case is unclear to the receiver. If the image file is transmitted tothe receiver's PC with a clear indication of the sender's identificationand it is recognizable to the receiver before opening of the receivedimage file, the convenience of the remote scanning capability of theimage processing system to the users would be increased.

Further, when transmitting a fax to a desired external station, theimage of the transmitted fax is simply printed at the receiver'sequipment. However, when transmitting an image file from the imageprocessing device to the desired external computer across the LAN, it isdesired to cause the receiver's computer to perform variouspost-processing procedures of the image file after the reception of theimage file at the receiver's computer, in order to increase theconvenience of the image processing system's remote scanning to theusers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved imageprocessing device, an improved image processing method and an improvedimage processing system in which the above-described problems areeliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing device that allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately recognize the sender's identification, in order to increasethe convenience of the remote scanning capability to the users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing device that allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately overview the contents of the image file or the like, inorder to increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability tothe users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing device that allows the receiver's computer to perform variouspost-processing procedures of the image file after the reception of theimage file, in order to increase the convenience of the remote scanningcapability to the users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing method that allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately recognize the sender's identification, in order to increasethe convenience of the remote scanning capability to the users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing method that allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately overview the contents of the image file or the like, inorder to increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability tothe users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing method that allows the receiver's computer to perform variouspost-processing procedures of the image file after the reception of theimage file, in order to increase the convenience of the remote scanningcapability to the users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote-scanimage processing system which allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately recognize the sender's identification, in order to increasethe convenience of the remote scanning capability to the users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote-scanimage processing system which allows the receiver of the image file toimmediately overview the contents of the image file or the like, inorder to increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability tothe users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote-scanimage processing system which allows the receiver's computer to performvarious post-processing procedures of the image file after the receptionof the image file, in order to increase the convenience of the remotescanning capability to the users.

The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by animage processing device which transmits an image file to one of aplurality of external stations through a network, the image processingdevice comprising: a destination registering unit which stores adestination identifier of the image file, the destination identifierindicating one of the external stations to which the image file istransmitted from the image processing device; a sender registering unitwhich stores a sender identifier of the image file, the senderidentifier indicating a person or group who sends the image file to saidone of the external stations; and a transmission unit which transmitsthe image file, together with the stored sender identifier, through thenetwork to said one of the external stations indicated by the storeddestination identifier.

The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by animage processing method which transmits an image file to one of aplurality of external stations through a network, the image processingmethod comprising the steps of: storing a destination identifier of theimage file, the destination identifier indicating one of the externalstations to which the image file is transmitted from the imageprocessing device; storing at least one of a sender identifier of theimage file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan conditionof the image file; and transmitting the image file, together with saidat least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and thescan condition, through the network to said one of the external stationsindicated by the stored destination identifier.

The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by aremote-scan image processing system including an image processing deviceand a plurality of external stations connected to the image processingdevice through a network, the image processing device comprising: ascanner unit which photoelectrically scans a document to read image datafrom the document, the scanner unit provided with an automatic documentfeeder transporting the document to the scanner unit before the readingof the image data; an image memory which stores the image data read bythe scanner unit; a transmission unit which transmits an image filederived from the image data stored in the image memory, to one of theplurality of external stations through the network; and an operationunit which input key-in information to select one of the externalstations as a destination station which receives the image file, whereinthe one of the external stations receives the image file, transmitted bythe transmission unit, in accordance with a selected file format, andthe one of the external stations comprises a file format selection unitselecting one of a plurality of file formats as conforming to the imagefile transmitted by the image processing device.

In the image processing device, method and system of the presentinvention, a destination identifier of the image file to be transmittedis stored, a sender identifier of the image file is stored, and theimage file is transmitted, together with the stored identifier, throughthe network to one of the plurality of external computers. According tothe image processing device, the image processing method and theremote-scan image processing system of the present invention, it ispossible that the receiver of the image file immediately recognize theidentifier of the sender, the image subject or the scan condition, inorder to increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability tothe users. The image processing device, method and system of the presentinvention are effective in enabling the receiver of the image file toimmediately overview the contents of the image file or the like, so asto increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability to theusers. The image processing device, method and system of the presentinvention are effective in enabling the receiver's computer to performvarious post-processing procedures of the image file after the receptionof the image file, in order to increase the convenience of the remotescanning capability to the users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of theremote-scan image processing system of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a list storing procedure executedby the image processing device of the present embodiment to store adestination list, a sender list and an image subject list.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a registering procedure executed bythe image processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an image file transmissionprocedure executed by the image processing device of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an initial-menu screen displayed on adisplay unit of the image processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a destination list screen displayedon the display unit of the image processing device of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a sender list screen displayed on thedisplay unit of the image processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a subject list screen displayed onthe display unit of the image processing device of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a scan condition list screendisplayed on the display unit of the image processing device of thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a scanning procedure executed by asecond preferred embodiment of the image processing system of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an image file transmissionprocedure executed by the image processing system of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an image file receiving procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an image file retransmissionprocedure executed by the image processing system of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a file format selection procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a file format storing screendisplayed on the external computer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a scanning procedure executed bythe image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, FIG. 17C and FIG. 17D are diagrams for explainingvarious operational screens displayed in the image processing device ofthe present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a scanning procedure executed bythe image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, FIG. 19C and FIG. 19D are diagrams for explainingvarious operational screens displayed in the image processing device ofthe present embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a document name input screen displayed in athird preferred embodiment of the image processing system of theinvention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a structure of image files stored inthe image memory of the image processing device of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining an image processing procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining an operational screen displayed inthe image processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining operational screens displayed in theimage processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining a structure of image files stored inthe image memory of the image processing device of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for explaining an image file transmissionprocedure executed by the image processing system of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining a file combining process.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart for explaining a file combining procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a fourth preferred embodiment of the imageprocessing system of the invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for explaining an image data storage procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 31A and FIG. 31B are diagrams for explaining input screensdisplayed in the image processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining a portion of a file combiningprocedure executed by the image processing system of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining another portion of the filecombining procedure executed by the image processing system of thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 34A, FIG. 34B, FIG. 34C and FIG. 34D are diagrams showing anexample of the file combining process in which plural document files arecombined together.

FIG. 35A, FIG. 35B and FIG. 35C are diagrams showing an example of thefile combining process in which plural document files are combinedtogether.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining a file combining procedureexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram of a fifth preferred embodiment of the imageprocessing system of the invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for explaining an image data storage routineexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining another image data storage routineexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart for explaining another image data storage routineexecuted by the image processing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining an image data storage procedureperformed in one embodiment of the image processing system of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will now be provided of preferred embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention. A description will be given, withreference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 9, of the first preferred embodiment ofthe remote-scan image processing system of the invention.

In the remote-scan image processing system of the present embodiment, animage processing device 10 and a plurality of external computers (PC)11, which are connected to the image processing device 10 through alocal area network 12 (e.g., the Ethernet), are provided. For the sakeof simplicity of description, only one of the plurality of externalcomputers 11 is shown in FIG. 1, and the other external computers 11 areomitted. The image processing device 10, shown in FIG. 1, is oneembodiment of the image processing device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing device 10 generally includes ascanner unit 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a display unit 3, animage processor 4, a network I/F (interface) unit 5, an image memory 6,an operation unit 7, and a ROM/RAM (read-only memory/random accessmemory) 8 are provided. These elements of the image processing device 10are interconnected by a local bus as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network I/F unit 5 serves to connect the imageprocessing device 10 to a selected one of the local area network 12 anda PSTN (public switched telephone network) 13. In the presentembodiment, the network 12 is a known Ethernet network. When the imageprocessing device 10 is connected to the PC 11 via the network 12, aconnection of the image processing device 10 and the PC 11 via thenetwork 12 is established by the network I/F unit 5. When the imageprocessing device 10 is connected to external equipment (not shown) viathe PSTN 13, a connection of the image processing device 10 and theexternal equipment via the PSTN 14 is established by the network I/Funit 5.

Suppose that address directory lists related to the PC 11, including adestination list, a sender list, an image subject list and a scancondition list, are stored, in advance, in the ROM/RAM 8. A networkadministrator (or an operator) causes the remote-scan image processingsystem to store, in advance, the destination list, the sender list, theimage subject list and the scan condition list, which are related to thePC 11, into the ROM/RAM 8 of the image processing device 10 by makinguse of a registering program from the ROM/RAM 8. A shared use of theselists for the small-office home-office application and for the wide areanetwork application is considered by using a common entry for the samesender identifier, and the need for performing a duplicate list storingprocedure will be eliminated.

A description will be given of operations of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a list storing procedure executed by the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the present embodiment. When the list storingprocedure of FIG. 2 is executed, a destination list, a sender list andan image subject list which are received from the related externalcomputer 11 via the network 12 are temporarily stored into the imageprocessing device 10.

When a power switch of the image processing device 10 is turned on bythe network administrator (or the operator), the list storing procedure,shown in FIG. 2, is started. At a start of the list storing procedure,the CPU 2 of the image processing device 10 (which will called the CPU2) sends a call to a registered PC (the external computer) 11 in thenetwork 12 (S1). After step S1 is performed, the CPU 2 causes thenetwork I/F unit 5 to establish a connection of the image processingdevice 10 and the external computer 11 (S2). The CPU 2 sends a requestof receiving of a destination list related to the external computer 11,to the external computer 11 (S3). The destination list contains a set ofdestination identifiers, and each destination identifier indicates oneof the plurality of external computers in the network 12 to which animage file is transmitted from the image processing device 10.

After step S3 is performed, the CPU 2 stores the destination list,received from the external computer 11, into the ROM/RAM 8 (S4). Then,the CPU 2 sends a request of receiving of a sender list related to theexternal computer 11, to the external computer 11 (S5). The sender listcontains a set of sender identifiers, and each sender identifierindicates one of a plurality of sender personnel or groups who send animage file from the image processing device 10 to the destinationcomputer 11 in the network 12.

After step S5 is performed, the CPU 2 stores the sender list, receivedfrom the external computer 11, into the ROM/RAM 8 (S6). Then, the CPU 2sends a request of receiving of an image subject list related to theimage file being transmitted, to the external computer 11 (S7). Theimage subject list contains a set of image subject identifiers, and eachsubject identifier indicates one of a plurality of image subjectindications which indicate the names of the images in the image filebeing transmitted.

After step S7 is performed, the CPU 2 stores the image subject list,received from the external computer 11, into the ROM/RAM 8 (S8). Afterstep S8 is performed, the list storing procedure of FIG. 2 is finished.

When the list storing procedure of FIG. 2 is finished, the CPU 2 of theimage processing device 10 performs a registering procedure based on thestored destination list and the stored sender list. FIG. 3 shows aregistering procedure executed by the image processing system of thepresent embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, at a start of the registering procedure, the CPU 2starts execution of a registering program read from the ROM/RAM 8 (S11).After step S11 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to select oneof a destination entry or a sender entry for subsequent operations(S12). When the destination entry is selected as a result of step S12,the CPU 2 performs step S13 and subsequent steps. The CPU 2 causes theoperator to input a new destination identifier from the operation unit 7(S13). The CPU 2 stores the new destination identifier, input by theoperator from the operation unit 7, into the destination list previouslystored (S14). The CPU 2 stores the same destination identifier, input bythe operator from the operation unit 7, into the sender list previouslystored (S15). After step S15 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operatorto determine whether the operator wishes to continue to perform thedestination entry operation (S16). When the result at step S16 isaffirmative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S12.Otherwise the CPU 2 performs the next step S22.

On the other hand, when the sender entry is selected as a result of stepS12, the CPU 2 performs step S17 and subsequent steps. The CPU 2 readsthe previously stored sender list from the ROM/RAM 8 so that thecontents of the sender list are displayed on the display unit 3 (S17).The CPU 2 causes the operator to determine whether the operator wishesto change the stored sender list (S18). When the result at step S18 isnegative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S22.Otherwise the CPU 2 performs the next step S19. The CPU 2 causes theoperator to input a new sender identifier from the operation unit 7(S19). The CPU 2 stores the new sender identifier, input by the operatorfrom the operation unit 7, into the sender list previously stored (S20).After step S20 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to determinewhether the operator wishes to continue to perform the sender entryoperation (S21). When the result at step S21 is affirmative, the controlof the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S19. Otherwise the CPU 2performs the next step S22.

When the result at one of the steps S16, S18 and S21 is negative, theCPU 2 performs a subject list entry and storing process by using theregistering program (S22). The subject list entry and storing process isperformed, in advance, by the network administrator when the imagesubject list of the image file is managed on the side of the externalcomputer 11. After step S22 is performed, the CPU 2 performs a scancondition entry and storing process by using the registering program(S23). When scan conditions are predetermined, a scan conditionselection list (which includes, for example, 100 dpi for thumbnail (T/N)images, 300 dpi for OCR images and 600 dpi for album images) isdisplayed, during the scan condition entry and storing process of thestep S23, and the operator is caused to select one from among those ofthe scan condition selection list.

FIG. 4 shows an image file transmission procedure executed by the imageprocessing system of the present embodiment.

At a start of the image file transmission procedure of FIG. 4, aninitial-menu screen is displayed on the display unit 3 of the imageprocessing device 10. FIG. 5 shows the initial-menu screen displayed onthe display unit of the image processing device of the presentembodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the operator can select the followingitems from the initial-menu screen: a text/photograph choice(“TEXT/PHOTO”), a resolution choice (“400 dpi”), a documentauto-feed/one-side feed choice (“AUTO/ONE-SIDE”), a scan condition listselection (“SCAN”), a destination list selection (“DESTN”), a senderlist selection (“SENDR”), and a one-side/dual-side selection(“ONE/DUAL”).

As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 2 receives a key-in selection from theoperation unit 7 (S31). The CPU 2 determines which of the destinationlist selection or the sender list selection is input by the operatorfrom the operation unit 7 (S32). When the destination list selection isinput by the operator, the CPU 2 performs the next step S33 andsubsequent steps. When the sender list selection is input by theoperator, the CPU 2 performs the next step S37 and subsequent steps.

When the destination list selection is input by the operator as a resultof the step S32, the CPU 2 receives the destination list from theROM/RAM 8 (S33). The CPU 2 displays the destination list, received fromthe ROM/RAM 8, on the display unit 3 (S34).

FIG. 6 shows a destination list screen displayed on the display unit 3of the image processing device 10 of the present embodiment. The CPU 2causes the operator to select a desired destination from among aplurality of destination identifiers of the destination list displayedon the display unit 3 (S35). After step S35 is performed, the CPUperforms the next step S40 and subsequent steps, which will be describedbelow.

When the sender list selection is input by the operator as a result ofthe step S32, the CPU 2 receives the sender list from the ROM/RAM 8(S37). The CPU 2 displays the sender list, received from the ROM/RAM 8,on the display unit 3 (S38).

FIG. 7 shows a sender list screen displayed on the display unit 3 of theimage processing device 10 of the present embodiment. After step S38 isperformed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to select a desired sender fromamong a plurality of sender identifiers of the sender list displayed onthe display unit 3 (S39). After step S39 is performed, the CPU 2performs the next step S40 and subsequent steps, which will be describedbelow.

In the destination and sender list screens shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7,“next” button is provided to indicate the next page of the related listwhen depressed, “select” button is provided to select the desireddestination or sender from the destination or sender list whendepressed, and “end” button is provided to finalize the selected itemfrom the related list when depressed. After the “end” button isdepressed, the indication of the display unit 3 is returned to theinitial menu shown in FIG. 5, which allows the operator to selectanother item by depressing any of the various list selection buttons. Inthe present example, the operator first selects the destinationidentifier from the destination list, and depresses the “end” button sothat the indication of the display unit 3 is returned to the initialmenu, and then the operator selects any of the sender, the scancondition and the image subject starting from the initial menu.

With the initial menu displayed, the CPU 2 determines which of the imagesubject choice or the scan condition choice is input by the operatorfrom the operation unit 7 (S40). When the image subject choice is inputby the operator, the CPU 2 performs the next step S41 and subsequentsteps. When the scan condition choice is input by the operator, the CPU2 performs the next step S44 and subsequent steps.

When the image subject choice is input by the operator as a result ofthe step S40, the CPU 2 receives the image subject list from the ROM/RAM8 (S41). The CPU 2 displays the image subject list, received from theROM/RAM 8, on the display unit 3 (S42).

FIG. 8 shows an image subject list screen displayed on the display unit3 of the image processing device 10 of the present embodiment. The“next” button, the “select” button and the “end” button of the listscreen shown in FIG. 8 are the same as the corresponding buttons shownin FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. The CPU 2 causes the operator to select a desiredimage subject from among a plurality of image subjects of the imagesubject list displayed on the display unit 3 (S43). After step S43 isperformed, the CPU performs the next step S47, which will be describedbelow.

When the scan condition choice is input by the operator as a result ofthe step S40, the CPU 2 receives the scan condition list from theROM/RAM 8 (S44). The CPU 2 displays the scan condition list, receivedfrom the ROM/RAM 8, on the display unit 3 (S45).

FIG. 9 shows a scan condition list screen displayed on the display unit3 of the image processing device 10 of the present embodiment. The“next” button, the “select” button and the “end” button of the listscreen shown in FIG. 9 are the same as the corresponding buttons shownin FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. After step S45 is performed, the CPU 2 causes theoperator to select a desired scan condition from among a plurality ofscan conditions of the scan condition list displayed on the display unit3 (S46).

After the step S43 or the step S46 is performed, the CPU 2 performs animage file transmission procedure (S47). In the present embodiment, theimage file is transmitted, together with any of the selected senderidentifier, the selected image subject and the selected scan condition,through the network 12 to the external computer 11 (the destination)among the external computers.

According to the image processing device, the image processing methodand the remote-scan image processing system of the present invention, itis possible that the receiver of the image file immediately recognizethe sender or scan condition or image subject identification, in orderto increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability to theusers.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 10 throughFIG. 19D, of a second preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a scanning procedure executed by the second preferredembodiment of the image processing system of the invention. In thepresent embodiment, one of a book-type document and a cut-sheet documentis scanned by the scanner unit 1 to read image data from the document,and an image file is created from the image data in accordance with adefined file format.

The remote-scan image processing system of the present embodiment isessentially the same as that of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1,and a description thereof will be omitted. In the image processingsystem of the present embodiment, the image processing device 10, andthe plurality of external computers (PC) 11, connected to the imageprocessing device 10 through the local area network 12, are provided.

At a start of the scanning procedure of FIG. 10, an initial-menu screenis displayed on the display unit 3 of the image processing device 10(S51). The CPU 2 receives a key-in destination and a key-in scancondition which are input by the operator from the operation unit 7 withthe initial menu displayed (S52). The CPU 2 causes the operator to set adocument on a contact glass of the scanner unit 1 or an automaticdocument feeder (ADF) of the scanner unit 1 (S53). In the presentembodiment, the scanner unit 1 of the image processing device 10 isprovided with the ADF. When the document to be scanned is a book-typedocument, it is set on the contact glass. When the document to bescanned is a cut-sheet document, it is set on the ADF. After the stepS53 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the startbutton in the operation unit 7 to start the scanner unit 1 (S54).

After the step S54 is performed, the CPU 2 performs the image reading ofthe document by controlling the scanner unit 1 (S55). The CPU 2 storesthe image data obtained at the step S55 and the selected destinationreceived at the step S52 into the image memory 6 (S56).

The CPU 2 determines whether an end of the image reading is detected bythe scanner unit 1 (S57). When the result at step S57 is negative, thecontrol of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S55.

When the result at step S57 is affirmative, the CPU 2 reads a definedfile format from the ROM/RAM 8 (S58). The CPU 2 reads a set of thestored image data from the image memory 6 (S59). The CPU 2 creates animage file from the read image data in accordance with the read fileformat (S60). After the step S60 is performed, the scanning routine ofFIG. 10 is finished. When an image file transmission procedure isfurther performed, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to step S72of the image file transmission procedure of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 shows an image file transmission procedure executed by the imageprocessing system of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment,an image file is transmitted from the image processing device 10 to theexternal computer 11 across the network 12.

At a start of the image file transmission procedure of FIG. 11, the CPU2 of the image processing device 10 detects the storage of image filesin the image memory 6 (S71). The CPU 2 sends a call to the externalcomputer 11 across the network 12, which computer is designated as thedestination of the image files to be transmitted (S72). After step S72is performed, the CPU 2 causes the network I/F unit 5 to establish aconnection of the image processing device 10 and the external computer11 (S73).

After the connection of the image processing device 10 and the externalcomputer 11 is established, the CPU 2 reads one of the stored imagefiles from the image memory 6 (S74). The CPU 2 transmits the image filefrom the image processing device 10 to the external computer 11 acrossthe network 12 (S74). The CPU 2 determines whether all the image filesare transmitted to the external computer 11 (S76). When the result atstep S76 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S74.

When the result at step S76 is affirmative, the CPU 2 controls thenetwork I/F unit 5 to release the connection of the image processingdevice 10 and the external computer 11 (S77). After the step S77 isperformed, the image file transmission procedure of FIG. 11 is finished.

FIG. 12 shows an image file receiving procedure executed by the imageprocessing system of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment,the external computer 11 receives an image file from the imageprocessing device 10 across the network 12.

At a start of the image file receiving procedure of FIG. 12, the CPU ofthe external computer 11 (which will be called the controller) sends anacknowledge (ACK) signal to the image processing device 10 (will becalled the IPD 10) in response to the call sent by the IPD 10 at thestep S72 of FIG. 11 (S81).

After the connection of the IPD 10 and the external computer 11 isestablished, the controller receives the image file sent by the IPD 10via the network 12 (S82). The controller determines whether all theimage files sent by the IPD 10 are received at the external computer 11(S83). When the result at step S83 is negative, the control of thecontroller is transferred to the step S82.

When the result at step S83 is affirmative, the controller sends an ACKsignal to the IPD 10 in response to the releasing request sent by theIPD 10 so that the connection of the IPD 10 and the external computer 11is released (S84). After the step S84 is performed, the image filereceiving procedure of FIG. 12 is finished. When an image fileretransmission procedure is further performed, the controller of theexternal computer 11 is transferred to step S91 of the image fileretransmission procedure of FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows an image file retransmission procedure executed by theimage processing system of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the external computer 11 transmits the imagefile, received from the image processing device 10, to another externalcomputer among the plurality of external computers 11 across the network12.

At a start of the image file retransmission procedure of FIG. 13, thecontroller of the external computer 11 reads the destination from thereceived image file, the destination indicating the other externalcomputer among the plurality of external computers 11 in the network 12to which the image file is transmitted (S91). The controller reads thefile format given to the destination (S92). The controller reads one ofthe stored image files (S93). The controller creates an image file fromthe read image data in accordance with the read file format and storesthe converted image file (S94).

After the step S94 is performed, the controller determines whether allthe stored image files are read (S95). When the result at step S95 isnegative, the control of the controller is transferred to the step S93.

When the result at step S95 is affirmative, the controller reads areceiving method given to the destination (S96). The controller readsthe converted image file (S97). The controller transmits the convertedimage file to the destination (the other external computer among theplurality of external computers 11) across the network 12 (S98). Thecontroller determines whether all the converted image files areretransmitted (S99). When the result at step S99 is negative, thecontrol of the controller is transferred to the step S97. When theresult at step S99 is affirmative, the image file retransmissionprocedure of FIG. 13 is finished.

FIG. 14 shows a file format selecting procedure executed by the imageprocessing system of the present embodiment.

Suppose that a file format is allocated to each of the plurality ofexternal computers 11 on the network 12 and provides the method ofcreating an image file to be transmitted to the corresponding externalcomputer as the destination. In the present embodiment, such fileformats for the external computers 11 are stored in the form of a fileformat list, and the operator selects one of the stored file formatsfrom the file format list before the transmission of an image file tothe destination.

At a start of the file format selecting procedure of FIG. 14, the CPU 2of the IPD 10 starts execution of the registering program from theROM/RAM 8 (S111). In the step S111, the operator stores a file formatlist wherein the file formats are allocated to the respective externalcomputers 11, into the ROM/RAM 8 by inputting the necessary key-ininformation from the operation unit 7.

After the step S111 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to inputa destination identifier that indicates one of the external computers inthe network 12 (S112). The CPU 2 reads the file format currently givento the input destination, from the ROM/RAM 8 (S113). The CPU 2 displaysthe destination identifier and the file format (S114). The CPU 2displays the file format list read from the ROM/RAM 8 (S115).

With the file format list displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operator toselect one of the stored file formats from the file format list (S116).After the step S116 is performed, the file format selecting procedure ofFIG. 14 is finished.

Alternatively, the external computer 11 may start the execution of thefile format selecting procedure which is the same as the procedure,shown in FIG. 16, including the steps S111 through S116. In suchalternative embodiment, the operator on the external computer 11 maystore the file format list wherein a desired file format is allocated tothe operator's external computer 11 itself, into the ROM/RAM 8 of theimage processing device 10, by inputting the necessary key-ininformation from the external computer 11 during the execution of theregistering program.

FIG. 15 shows a file format storing screen displayed on the externalcomputer in the alternative embodiment mentioned above.

For example, suppose that, in the image processing device 10, the fileformat of binary image files is set to TIFF-F (Tag Image File Format)that is proposed by Aldus Co., and the file format of M-nary image filesis set to SPED format that is proposed by Joint Photographic CodingExperts Group. In the present embodiment, the external computer 11starts the execution of the registering program, as shown in FIG. 15,and the file format that is the same as that of the file format list ofthe image processing device 10 is stored as the file format of areceived image file at the external computer 11.

FIG. 16 shows a scanning procedure executed by the image processingsystem of the present embodiment FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, FIG. 17C and FIG.17D show various operational screens displayed in the image processingdevice of the present embodiment during the scanning procedure of FIG.16.

In the present embodiment, one of a book-type document and a cut-sheetdocument is scanned by the scanner unit 1 to obtain image data from thedocument, and an image file is created from the image data in accordancewith a defined file format.

At a start of the scanning procedure of FIG. 16, the CPU 2 of the IPD 10displays an initial menu (S121). With the initial menu displayed, theCPU 2 causes the operator to select the destination and the scancondition of an image file to be transmitted, from the initial menu(S122). The CPU 2 causes the operator to set a document on either thecontact glass or the ADF of the scanner unit 1 (S123). When the documentis a book-type document, the document is set on the contact glass. Whenthe document is a cut-sheet document, the document is set on the ADF.

The CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the start button (S124). Whenthe start button is depressed, the operational screen shown in. FIG. 17Ais displayed on the display unit 3. The CPU 2 controls the scanner unit1 so that the image reading of the document is performed by the scannerunit 1 (S125). The CPU 2 stores the image data and the destination intothe image memory 6 (S126).

After the step S126 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether thedocument is set on the contact glass of the scanner unit 1 (S127). Whenthe result at step S127 is affirmative, the operational screen shown inFIG. 17B is displayed on the display unit 3. The CPU 2 determineswhether an end of the document is detected by the scanner unit 1 (S128).When the result at step S128 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S124.

When the result at step S128 is affirmative, the CPU 2 determineswhether the cut-sheet document exists on the ADF (S129). When the resultat step S129 is affirmative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred tothe step S124. Otherwise the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to stepS131, which will be described below.

When the result at step S127 is negative, the CPU 2 determines whetheran end of the document on the ADF is detected (S130). When the result atstep S130 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S125. Otherwise the CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the “scanend” button (S131).

When the “scan end” button is depressed, the CPU 2 reads the definedfile format given to the destination, from the ROM/RAM 8 (S132). The CPU2 reads a set of the stored image data from the image memory 6 (S133).The CPU 2 creates an image file from the read image data in accordancewith the read file format (S134). After the step S134 is performed, thescanning procedure of FIG. 16 is finished.

FIG. 18 shows a scanning procedure executed by the image processingsystem of the present embodiment, FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, FIG. 19C and FIG.19D show various operational screens displayed in the image processingdevice of the present embodiment during the scanning procedure of FIG.18.

In the present embodiment, an image file is created when the image datacontained in the original document exceeds a maximum page of image data.

At a start of the scanning procedure of FIG. 18, the CPU 2 of the IPD 10displays an initial menu (S141). With the initial menu displayed, theCPU 2 causes the operator to select the destination and the scancondition of an image file to be transmitted, from the initial menu(S142). The CPU 2 causes the operator to set a document on either thecontact glass or the ADF of the scanner unit 1 (S143). When the documentis a book-type document, the document is set on the contact glass. Whenthe document is a cut-sheet document, the document is set on the ADF.

The CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the start button (S144). Whenthe start button is depressed, the operational screen shown in FIG. 19Ais displayed on the display unit 3. When the document is the book-typedocument, the counter “N”, which indicates the number of pages scannedin the case of the cut-sheet document, is reset to zero (S145). The CPU2 controls the scanner unit 1 so that the image reading of the documentis performed by the scanner unit 1 (S146). The CPU 2 stores the imagedata and the destination into the image memory 6 (S147).

After the step S147 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether thedocument is set on the contact glass of the scanner unit 1 (S148). Whenthe result at step S148 is negative (the cut-sheet document exists onthe ADF), the CPU 2 increments the counter “N” (S150). The CPU 2determines whether an end of the cut-sheet document is detected by thescanner unit 1 (S151). When the result at step S151 is affirmative, theCPU 2 executes the next step S149, which will be described below.Otherwise the CPU 2 determines whether the count “N” reaches the maximumpage (in this example, the maximum page=100) (S152). When the result atstep S152 is affirmative (N=100), the CPU 2 displays the operationalscreen, shown in FIG. 19B, on the display unit 3 (S153). With theoperational screen of FIG. 19B displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operatorto set a next cut-sheet document on the ADF and depress the “OK” buttonof the operational screen, in order to restart the scanning of thedocument (S154). When the “OK” button is depressed, the operationalscreen shown in FIG. 19C is displayed on the display unit 3. After thestep S154 is performed, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S145. Every time the counter “N” is incremented, the number ofpages scanned in the operational screen is also incremented.

When the result at step S152 is negative (N<100), the control of the CPU2 is transferred to the step S146.

When the result at step S148 or the result at step S151 is affirmative,the operational screen shown in FIG. 19D is displayed on the displayunit 3, and the CPU 2 determines whether the document does not exists onthe scanner unit (S149). When the result at step S149 is negative, thecontrol of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S144. Otherwise the CPU2 causes the operator to depress the “end” button of the operationalscreen of FIG. 19D (S155).

When the “end” button is depressed, the CPU 2 reads the defined fileformat given to the destination, from the ROM/RAM 8 (S156). The CPU 2reads a set of the stored image data from the image memory 6 (S157). TheCPU 2 creates an image file from the read image data in accordance withthe read file format (S158). After the step S158 is performed, thescanning procedure of FIG. 18 is finished.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 20 throughFIG. 28, of a third preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention.

In the present embodiment, the remote-scan image processing system isessentially the same as that of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1,and a description thereof will be omitted. In the image processingsystem of the present embodiment, the image processing device 10, andthe plurality of external computers (PC) 11, connected to the imageprocessing device 10 through the local area network 12, are provided.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 20 through FIG. 22 and FIG. 1, imagedata are read from various documents by the scanner unit 1 of the imageprocessing device 10 (which will be called the IPD 10), and the imagedata are stored in the image memory 6.

FIG. 20 shows a document name input screen displayed on the display unit3 and the operation unit 7 of the IPD 10 in the image processing systemof the present embodiment. FIG. 21 shows a structure of image filesstored in the image memory 6 of the IPD 10 of the present embodiment.FIG. 22 shows an image processing procedure executed by the CPU 2 of theIPD 10 in the image processing system of the present embodiment.

At a start of the image processing procedure of FIG. 22, the CPU 2causes the display unit 3 to display an initial document name thereon(S160). The CPU 2 causes the operator on the operation unit 7 to set adesired document name of image data that will be read from a documentand stored in the image memory 6 (S161).

For example, suppose that, as a result of step S161, the operator inputsthe document name “19990924171030” from the operation unit 7 as shown inFIG. 20. The CPU 2 causes the display unit to display a request ofselection of a desired destination of the image data on the display unit3 (S162). The CPU 2 receives the destination and scan condition of theimage data that are selected by the operator on the operation unit 7(S163).

After the step S163 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to setthe document on the contact glass of the scanner unit 1 or the ADF ofthe scanner unit 1 (S164). When the document to be scanned is abook-type document, it is set on the contact glass. When the document tobe scanned is a cut-sheet document, it is set on the ADF. After the stepS164 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the startbutton in the operation unit 7 to start the scanner unit 1 (S165). TheCPU 2 temporarily stores the selected destination, obtained at the stepS163, into the ROM/RAM 8 (S166).

After the step S166 is performed, the CPU 2 performs the image readingof the document by controlling the scanner unit 1 (S167). The CPU 2stores the image data, obtained at the step S167, into the image memory6 (S168).

After the step S168 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether an end ofthe document is detected by the scanner unit 1 (S169). When the resultat step S169 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S167. Otherwise the CPU stores the selected destination, the numberof pages of the image data and the file format of the image data intothe image memory 6 together with the image data (S170). After the stepS170 is performed, the image processing procedure of FIG. 22 isfinished.

For example, suppose that, as a result of step S170, the image datacontaining 10 pages of images are stored into the image memory 6. Inthis case, as shown in FIG. 21, 10 pairs of image data file (e.g.,“19990924171030-001.IMG”) and image format file (e.g.,“199909241710-001.PAGEINFO”) for the ten-page images as well as adocument information file (e.g., “19990924171030.DOCINFO”) for theselected destination, the number of pages and the others are stored inthe image memory 6. In this case, the total number of the files storedis 21.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 23 through FIG. 26 and FIG. 1, theimage data of the image memory 6 are transmitted from the imageprocessing device 10 to one of the external computers 11 through thenetwork 12.

FIG. 23 shows an operational screen (document file list) displayed onthe display unit 3 and the operation unit 7 of the IPD 10 of the presentembodiment. FIG. 24 shows operational screens (initial menu anddestination list) displayed on the display unit 3 and the operation unit7 of the IPD 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 25 shows a structure ofimage files stored in the image memory 6 of the IPD 10 of the presentembodiment. FIG. 26 shows an image file transmission procedure executedby the CPU 2 of the IPD 10 the image processing system of the presentembodiment.

At a start of the image file transmission procedure of FIG. 26, the CPU2 reads the image data of the stored document files from the imagememory 6 (S180). The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display adocument list, containing a number of document names or identifiers ofthe document files of the image memory 6, based on the read image dataas shown in FIG. 23 (S181). For example, in this case, the document listcontaining the file name “19990924171030” and others is displayed on thedisplay unit 3.

With the document list displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operator toselect a desired document file from the document list by inputtingkey-in information (S182). After the step S182 is performed, the CPU 2causes the display unit 3 to invert the indication of the selecteddocument file within the document file list (S183). After the step S183is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether all the document files thatshould be transmitted are selected (S184).

When the result at step S184 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S182. Otherwise the CPU 2 determines whether theoperator desires to combine the document files together prior to theimage file transmission (S185).

When the result at step S185 is negative (or when the operator does notdesire the file combination), the CPU 2 determines whether the operatordesires to couple the document file and the form file prior to the imagefile transmission (S193). When the result at step S193 is negative, theoperational screen (the initial menu), shown at the upper part of FIG.24, is displayed on the display unit 3. As shown in FIG. 24, after the“DESTN” button in the initial menu is depressed by the operator, the CPU2 causes the operational screen (the destination list), shown at thelower part of FIG. 24, to be displayed on the display unit 3. Then, theCPU 2 causes the operator to select a desired destination from among theplurality of destination identifiers of the destination list displayedon the display unit 3. In the example of FIG. 24, the destinationidentifiers of the destination list are department names of a certaincompany, and one of the department names in the destination list isselected as the destination by the operator. After the destination isselected by the operator, the CPU 2 causes the network I/F unit 5 totransmit one of the document files through the network 12 to theexternal computer 11, which is indicated by the selected destination, byusing the receiving method (S191). After the step S191 is performed, theCPU 2 determines whether all the document files are transmitted to thedestination (S192). When the result at step S192 is negative, thecontrol of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S191. Otherwise theimage file transmission procedure of FIG. 26 is finished.

When the result at step S185 is affirmative (or when the operatordesires the file combination), the CPU 2 reads the selected documentfiles from the image memory 6 (S186). Suppose that, in this case, theoperator desires to combine the document file “19990924171030” and thedocument file “DOC-A”, indicated in the document file list of FIG. 23,prior to the image file transmission, and a combined document file iscreated from the two files. The CPU 2 causes the image processor 4 toarrange the selected document files in order of the selection (S187).

After the step S187 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the image processor 4to convert, if needed, the selected document files according to thegiven file format (S188). The CPU 2 creates a combined document filefrom the selected document files, and modifies the number of pagesincluded in the document information file of the selected document filesby incrementing the number of pages (S189). FIG. 25 shows a structure ofthe image data files stored in the image memory 6 after the step S189 isperformed. As shown in FIG. 25, the image data file “DOCUMENT-001.IMG”and the image format file “DOCUMENT-001.PAGEINFO” are newly included inthe image memory 6. In this case, the number of pages included in thedocument information file is changed from 10 to 11.

After the step S189 is performed, the CPU 2 stores the modified documentinformation file into the image memory 6 (S190). After the step S190 isperformed, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S191, andthe combined document file is transmitted at the step S191 through thenetwork 12 to the external computer 11, which is indicated by theselected destination, by using the receiving method.

When the images of the selected document files have the same number ofgray levels, it is possible to convert the selected document files intothe multiple-page TIFF format files based on the corresponding documentformat files. In such a case, the document file, such as“990924171030.TIFF”, is transmitted through the network 12 to thedestination.

In the above-described embodiment, the file combining process is carriedout by the CPU 2 of the image processing device 10. Alternatively, thedocument file combining process may be carried out by the externalcomputer 11 instead of the CPU 2 of the image processing device 10. Insuch a case, the controller of the external computer 11 performs thesteps S186 through S190 of the image file transmission procedure shownin FIG. 26.

When the result at step S193 is affirmative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to step S200 of FIG. 28, which will be described below.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 27, FIG. 28 and FIG. 1, a combinedimage file, derived from the image data of the image memory 6, istransmitted from the image processing device 10 to one of the externalcomputers 11 through the network 12.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining a file combining process. FIG. 28shows a file combining procedure executed by the image processing systemof the present embodiment as a portion of the image file transmissionprocedure of FIG. 26.

As shown in FIG. 28, when the result at step S193 is affirmative (orwhen the operator desires to couple the document file and the form fileprior to the image file transmission), the CPU 2 determines whether theoperator desires to input offset values from the operation unit 7 whencombining the two files (S200).

When combining the document file and the form file to create a combinedimage file, simple superimposing of one of the two files upon the otheris inadequate for providing a proper page layout of the combined imagefile. The offset values, which indicate the differences in x and yposition within the page between the document file and the form file,are needed to provide a proper page layout of the combined image file.

When the result at step S200 is negative, the CPU 2 performs the nextstep S201, which will be described below. When the result at step S200is affirmative, the CPU 2 performs the next step S210, which will bedescribed later.

When the operator does not desire to input the offset values (or whenthe result at step S200 is negative), the CPU 2 reads the selecteddocument files that are to be combined, from the image memory 6 (S201).Suppose that, in the present embodiment, the form file “g”, indicated by(a) in FIG. 27, contains picture elements “g(Xi, Yj)”, the document file“h”, indicated by (b) in FIG. 27, contains picture elements “h(Xi, Yj)”,and the combined image file “NEW”, indicated by (c) in FIG. 27, containspicture elements “NEW(Xi, Yj)”. The image combination of the two filesis achieved by performing OR operations of the two image data, as in thefollowing equation:NEW(Xi,Yj)=f(g(Xi,Yj),h(Xi,Yj))  (1)

-   -   where Xi indicates the i-th picture element in the main scanning        direction, and Yj indicates the j-th picture element in the        sub-scanning direction.        It is assumed that the conditions 1≦i≦main scan width (the total        number of picture elements of the file in the main scanning        direction) and 1≦j≦sub-scan width (the total number of picture        elements of the file in the sub-scanning direction) are        satisfied.

After the step S201 is performed, the CPU 2 sets the counter “i” to 1(S202), and sets the counter “j” to 1 (S203). The CPU 2 calculates theresults of OR operations of the two image data, and stores the values off(g(Xi, Yj), h(Xi, Yj)) in the ROM/RAM 8 (S204). After the step S204 isperformed, the CPU 2 increments the counter “i” (S205).

After the step S205 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “i” exceeds the main scan width (S206). When the resultat step S206 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S204. Otherwise the CPU 2 increments the counter “j” (S207), andsets the counter “i” to 1 (S208).

After the step S208 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “j” exceeds the sub-scan width (S209). When the result atstep S209 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S204. Otherwise the combined image file is created from the twofiles, and the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S188shown in FIG. 26. As described earlier, the image file transmissionprocedure is carried out with respect to the combined image file.

On the other hand, when the result at step S200 is affirmative (or whenthe operator desires to input the offset values), the CPU 2 causes thedisplay unit 3 to display a request of inputting of the offset values(in, n) (S210). After the step S210 is performed, the CPU 2 causes theoperator to input the offset values (m, n) from the operation unit 7(S211).

After the step S211 is performed, the CPU 2 reads the selected documentfiles that are to be combined, from the image memory 6 (S212). Supposethat, in the present embodiment, the form file “g”, indicated by (a) inFIG. 27, contains picture elements “g(Xi, Yj)”, the document file “h”,indicated by (b) in FIG. 27, contains picture elements “h(Xi−m, Yj−n)”,and the combined image file “NEW”, indicated by (c) in FIG. 27, containspicture elements “NEW(Xi, Yj)”. The image combination of the two fileswith the offset is achieved by performing OR operations of the two imagedata with the offset values considered, as in the following equation:NEW(Xi,Yj)=f(g(Xi,Yj),h(Xi−m,Yj−n))  (2)

-   -   where Xi indicates the i-th picture element in the main scanning        direction, and Yj indicates the j-th picture element in the        sub-scanning direction.        It is assumed that the conditions 1≦i−m≦the main scan width (the        total number of picture elements of the file in the main        scanning direction) and 1≦j−n≦the sub-scan width (the total        number of picture elements of the file in the sub-scanning        direction) are satisfied.

After the step S212 is performed, the CPU 2 sets the counter “i” to 1(S213), and sets the counter “j” to 1 (S214). The CPU 2 determineswhether the value of “i−m” is larger than 1 (S215). When the result atstep S215 is affirmative, the CPU 2 determines whether the value of“j−n” is larger than 1 (S216). Otherwise the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to step S218, which will be described later.

When the result at step S216 is affirmative, the CPU 2 calculates theresults of OR operations of the two image data with the offset valuesconsidered, and stores the values of f(g(Xi, Yj), h(Xi−m, Yj−n)) intothe ROM/RAM 8 (S217). After the step S217 is performed, the CPU 2increments the counter “i” (S218).

After the step S218 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “i” exceeds the main scan width (S219). When the resultat step S219 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S215. Otherwise the CPU 2 increments the counter “j” (S220), andsets the counter “i” to 1 (S221).

After the step S221 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “j” exceeds the sub-scan width (S222). When the result atstep S222 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S215. Otherwise the combined image file is created from the twofiles with the offset values considered, and the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S188 shown in FIG. 26. As described earlier, theimage file transmission procedure is carried out with respect to thecombined image file.

When the result at step S216 is negative, the CPU 2 increments thecounter “j” (S223). After the step S223 is performed, the control of theCPU 2 is transferred to the step S222.

In the above-described embodiment, both the file combining process andthe combined image file transmission process are carried out by the CPU2 of the image processing device 10. Alternatively, the file combiningprocess may be carried out by the external computer 11, instead of theCPU 2 of the image processing device 10. In such alternative embodiment,after the combined image file, transmitted by the image processingdevice 10, is received at the external computer 11, the controller ofthe external computer 11 performs the steps S200 through S223 of thefile combining procedure of FIG. 28, and performs only the steps S188through S190 of the procedure of FIG. 26.

Accordingly, the image processing device, method and system of thepresent embodiment are effective in enabling the receiver of the imagefile to immediately overview the contents of the image file or the like,so as to increase the convenience of the remote scanning capability tothe users. The image processing device, method and system of the presentembodiment are effective in enabling the receiver's computer to performvarious post-processing procedures of the image file after the receptionof the image file, in order to increase the convenience of the remotescanning capability to the users.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 29 throughFIG. 36, of a fourth preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention.

FIG. 29 shows the fourth preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention. As shown in FIG. 29, the remote-scanimage processing system of the present embodiment is essentially thesame as that of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that theimage processing device 10 of the present embodiment further includes aprinter unit 9 connected to the local bus. In the image processingsystem of the present embodiment, the image processing device 10, andthe plurality of external computers (PC) 11, connected to the imageprocessing device 10 through the local area network 12, are provided. InFIG. 29, the elements that are essentially the same correspondingelements in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and adescription thereof will be omitted.

In the image processing system shown in FIG. 29, image data are readfrom various documents by the scanner unit 1 of the image processingdevice 10 (which will be called the IPD 10), and the image data arestored, together with personnel information (which includes at least apersonnel identifier, a pertinent department and so on) that is relatedto the operator who stores the image data by optically reading thedocuments, into the image memory 6. Further, in the image processingsystem of the present embodiment, the image data are transmitted,together with the stored personnel information, from the IPD 10 to oneof the external computers 11 through the network 12. A number ofpersonnel information items allocated for a number of personnel of thecompany are stored in a personnel database DB (which may be provided inthe ROM/RAM 8 or elsewhere on the local bus), and the personnel databaseis connected to the IPD 10 via the local bus.

Further, in the image processing system shown in FIG. 29, the IPD 10 isprovided with the printer unit 9, and, by printing the images ofdocument files by using the printer unit 9, the operator can easilyobserve the offset values needed when combining the document files.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 29 through FIG. 31B, image data areread from various documents by the scanner unit 1 of the IPD 10, and theimage data are stored in the image memory 6.

FIG. 30 shows an image data storage procedure that is executed by theCPU 2 of the IPD 10 in the image processing system of the presentembodiment. FIG. 31A and FIG. 31B show input screens that are displayedon the display unit 3 and the operation unit 7 of the IPD 10 when theprocedure of FIG. 30 is performed.

At a start of the image data storage procedure of FIG. 30, the CPU 2causes the display unit 3 to display a request of inputting of apersonnel identifier of the operator thereon as shown in FIG. 31A(S230). The CPU 2 receives the personnel identifier that is input by theoperator from the operation unit 7 (S231). The CPU 2 reads the relevantpersonnel information (including the personnel name, the pertinentdepartment and so on) from the personnel database based on the receivedpersonnel identifier (S232). After the step S232 is performed, the CPU 2temporarily stores the personnel information in a memory of the CPU 2 orthe ROM/RAM 8 (S233).

After the step S233 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 todisplay an initial document name thereon (S234). The CPU 2 causes theoperator on the operation unit 7 to set a desired document name of imagedata that will be read from a document and stored in the image memory 6as shown in FIG. 31B (S235).

For example, suppose that, as a result of step S235, the operator inputsthe document name “XYZ” from the operation unit 7 as shown in FIG. 31B.The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display a request of selection ofa desired destination of the image data on the display unit 3 (S236).The CPU 2 receives the destination and scan condition of the image datathat are selected by the operator on the operation unit 7 (S237).

After the step S237 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to setthe document on the contact glass of the scanner unit 1 or the ADF ofthe scanner unit 1 (S238). When the document to be scanned is abook-type document, it is set on the contact glass. When the document tobe scanned is a cut-sheet document, it is set on the ADF. After the stepS238 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator to depress the startbutton in the operation unit 7 to start the scanner unit 1 (S240). TheCPU 2 temporarily stores the selected destination into the ROM/RAM 8(S241).

After the step S241 is performed, the CPU 2 performs the image readingof the document by controlling the scanner unit 1 (S242). The CPU 2stores the image data, obtained at the step S242, into the image memory6 (S243).

After the step S243 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether an end ofthe document is detected by the scanner unit 1 (S245). When the resultat step S245 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S242. Otherwise the CPU stores the selected destination, the numberof pages of the image data and the file format of the image data, aswell as the personnel information obtained at the step S233, into theimage memory 6 together with the image data (S246). After the step S246is performed, the image processing procedure of FIG. 30 is finished.

Similar to the previous embodiments, the stored image data of the imagememory 6 are transmitted from the IPD 10 through the network 12 to oneof the external computers 11 that is designated as the destination.

In the present embodiment, the structure of files stored in the imagememory 6 is the same as that of the previous embodiment shown in FIG.21. The personnel information described above is contained in thedocument information file (e.g., “19990924171030.DOCINFO” shown in FIG.21) that is stored in the image memory 6 of the present embodiment.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 32 through FIG. 34D, a combined imagefile is created from plural document files of the image memory 6 of theIPD 10, and the combined image file is transmitted from the IPD 10 toone of the external computers 11 through the network 12.

FIG. 32 shows a first portion of a file combining procedure executed bythe CPU 2 of the IPD 10 in the image processing system of the presentembodiment. FIG. 33 shows a second portion of the file combiningprocedure executed by the CPU 2 of the IPD 10 in the image processingsystem of the present embodiment. FIG. 34A, FIG. 34B, FIG. 34C and FIG.34D show an example of the file combining process in which pluraldocument files are combined together.

The file combining procedure of FIG. 32, which uses the printing of acombined image file, allows the operator to easily determine the offsetvalues that are needed to provide a proper page layout of the combinedimage file. The file combining procedure of FIG. 33, which uses theoffset values input by the operator as the result of the first-portionfile combining procedure of FIG. 32, allows accurate page layout of thecombined mage file.

At a start of the file combining procedure of FIG. 32, the CPU 2 readsthe image data of the stored document files from the image memory 6(S250). The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display a document list,containing a number of document names or identifiers of the documentfiles of the image memory 6, based on the read image data (S251).

With the document list displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operator toselect a desired document file from the document list by inputtingkey-in information (S252). After the step S252 is performed, the CPU 2causes the display unit 3 to invert the indication of the selecteddocument file within the document file list (S253). After the step S253is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether all the document files thatshould be transmitted are selected (S254).

When the result at step S254 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S252. Otherwise the CPU 2 determines whether theoperator desires to combine the document files prior to the image filetransmission (S255).

When the result at step S255 is negative (or when the operator does notdesire the file combination), the control of the CPU 2 is transferred toan image file transmission process that is the same as the steps S191and S192 in the procedure shown in FIG. 26.

When the result at step S255 is affirmative (or when the operatordesires the file combination), the CPU 2 reads the selected documentfiles that are to be combined, from the image memory 6 (S256). Supposethat, in the present embodiment, the form file “g”, shown in FIG. 34A,contains picture elements “g(Xi, Yj)”, the document file “h”, shown inFIG. 34B, contains picture elements “h(Xi, Yj)”, and a combined imagefile without considering the offset values, shown in FIG. 34C, containspicture elements “f(Xi, Yj)”. The image combination of the two files isachieved by performing OR operations of the two image data. It isassumed that the conditions 1≦i≦the main scan width, and 1≦j≦thesub-scan width are satisfied.

After the step S256 is performed, the CPU 2 sets the counter “i” to 1(S257), and sets the counter “j” to 1 (S258). The CPU 2 calculates theresults of OR operations of the two image data, and stores the values off(g(Xi, Yj), h(Xi, Yj)) into the ROM/RAM 8 (S259). After the step S259is performed, the CPU 2 increments the counter “i” (S260).

After the step S260 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “i” exceeds the main scan width (S261). When the resultat step S261 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S259. Otherwise the CPU 2 increments the counter “j” (S262), andsets the counter “i” to 1 (S263).

After the step S263 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “j” exceeds the sub-scan width (S264). When the result atstep S264 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S259. Otherwise the combined image file is created from the twofiles without considering the offset values, and the CPU 2 causes theprinter unit 9 to print the image of the combined image file on paper(S265). After the step S265 is performed, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to step S266 shown in FIG. 33, which will be describedlater.

As the result of the step S265, the operator obtains the printed imageof the combined image file as shown in FIG. 34C. As the offset valuesbetween the two files are not considered, the simple superimposing isinadequate for providing a proper page layout of the combined imagefile. The printed image sheet, produced by the printer unit 9, includesa vertical scale 14 a that is parallel to the sub-scanning direction anda horizontal scale 14 b that is parallel to the main scanning direction.Hence, the operator easily determines the offset values (m, n) thatprovide a proper page layout of the combined image file, by observingthe relationship in position between the scales 14 a and 14 b and theprinted image.

At a start of the file combining procedure of FIG. 33, the CPU 2determines whether the operator inputs the offset values in order toprovide a proper page layout of the combined image file (S266). When theresult at step S266 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferredto the image file transmission process that is the same as the stepsS191 and S192 in the procedure shown in FIG. 26.

When the result at step S266 is affirmative, the CPU 2 receives theoffset values (m, n) that are input by the operator from the operationunit 7 (S267). After the step S267 is performed, the CPU 2 sets thecounter “i” to 1 (S268), and sets the counter “j” to 1 (S269). The CPU 2determines whether the value of “i−m” is larger than 1 (S270). When theresult at step S270 is affirmative, the CPU 2 determines whether thevalue of “j−n” is larger than 1 (S271). Otherwise the control of the CPU2 is transferred to step S273, which will be described later.

When the result at step S271 is affirmative, the CPU 2 calculates theresults of OR operations of the two image data with the offset valuesconsidered, and stores the values of f(g(Xi, Yj), h(Xi−m, Yj−n)) intothe ROM/RAM 8 (S272). After the step S272 is performed, the CPU 2increments the counter “i” (S273).

After the step S273 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “i” exceeds the main scan width (S274). When the resultat step S274 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S270. Otherwise the CPU 2 increments the counter “j” (S275), andsets the counter “i” to 1 (S276).

After the step S276 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “j” exceeds the sub-scan width (S277). When the result atstep S277 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S270. Otherwise the combined image file “NEW”, as shown in FIG.34D, is created from the two files with the offset values considered,and the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the image filetransmission process that is the same as the steps S191 and S192 in theprocedure shown in FIG. 26. As described earlier, the image filetransmission procedure is carried out with respect to the combined imagefile.

When the result at step S270 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S273, and the steps S271 and S272 are notperformed.

When the result at step S271 is negative, the CPU 2 increments thecounter “j” (S278). After the step S278 is performed, the control of theCPU 2 is transferred to the step S277.

According to the above-described embodiment, the image processing device10 can create a combined image file having a proper page layout, fromplural document files of the image memory 6 of the IPD 10.

In the above-described embodiment, both the file combining process andthe combined image file transmission process are carried out by the CPU2 of the image processing device 10. Alternatively, the file combiningprocess may be carried out by the external computer 11, instead of theCPU 2 of the image processing device 10. In such alternative embodiment,after the combined image file, transmitted by the image processingdevice 10, is received at the external computer 11, the controller ofthe external computer 11 performs the steps S250 through S278 of thefile combining procedure of FIG. 32 and FIG. 33.

FIG. 35A, FIG. 35B and FIG. 35C show an example of the file combiningprocess in which plural document files are combined together. FIG. 36shows a file combining procedure executed by the CPU 2 of the IPD 10 inthe image processing system of the present embodiment.

In the image processing system of the present embodiment, which isdescribed with reference to FIG. 35A through FIG. 36, the determinationof the offset values, which is manually carried out by the operator byobserving the printed image derived from the procedure of FIG. 32, isautomatically carried out.

At a start of the file combining procedure of FIG. 36, the CPU 2 readsthe image data of the stored document files from the image memory 6(S280). The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display a document list,containing a number of document names or identifiers of the documentfiles of the image memory 6, based on the read image data (S281).

With the document list displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operator toselect a desired document file from the document list by inputtingkey-in information (S282). After the step S282 is performed, the CPU 2causes the display unit 3 to invert the indication of the selecteddocument file within the document file list (S283). After the step S283is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether all the document files thatshould be transmitted are selected (S284).

When the result at step S284 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S282. Otherwise the CPU 2 determines whether theoperator desires to combine the document files prior to the image filetransmission (S285).

When the result at step S285 is negative (or when the operator does notdesire the file combination), the control of the CPU 2 is transferred toan image file transmission process that is the same as the steps S191and S192 in the procedure shown in FIG. 26.

When the result at step S285 is affirmative (or when the operatordesires the file combination), the CPU 2 reads the selected documentfiles that are to be combined, from the image memory 6 (S286). Supposethat, in the present embodiment, the form file “g”, shown in FIG. 35A,contains picture elements “g(Xi, Yj)” with a black dot 15 a attached tothe start position of the image thereof, the document file “h”, shown inFIG. 35B, contains picture elements “h(Xi, Yj)” with a black dot 15 battached to the start position of the image thereof, and a combinedimage file “NEW”, shown in FIG. 35C, contains picture elements “f(Xi,Yj)”. The image combination of the two files is achieved by performingOR operations of the two image data such that the black dot 15 b of thefile “h” matches with the black dot 15 a of the file “g”. It is assumedthat the conditions 1≦i≦the main scan width, and 1≦j≦the sub-scan widthare satisfied.

After the step S286 is performed, the CPU 2 sets the counter “i” to 1(S287), and sets the counter “j” to 1 (S288). The CPU 2 determineswhether the black clot 15 a of the file “g” is located at the currentposition indicated by the counter “i” and the counter “j” (S289). Whenthe result at step S289 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to step S290, which will be described later.

When the result at step S289 is affirmative, the CPU 2 stores theposition (Xi, Yj) as the black mark location (S295). After the step S295is performed, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S267shown in FIG. 33.

The CPU 2 increments the counter “i” (S290). After the step S290 isperformed, the CPU 2 determines whether the value of the counter “i”exceeds the main scan width (S291). When the result at step S291 isnegative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S289.Otherwise the CPU 2 increments the counter “j” (S292), and sets thecounter “i” to 1 (S293).

After the step S293 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether the valueof the counter “j” exceeds the sub-scan width (S294). When the result atstep S294 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferred to thestep S289. Otherwise the procedure of FIG. 36 is finished. As the resultof the step S295, the black dot position (Xi, Yj) with respect to thefile “g” is determined and stored. Similarly, the black dot position(Xi, Yj) with respect to the file “h” is also determined and stored byperforming the steps S287 to S294 shown in FIG. 36.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 2 calculates the offset values (m, n)that provides a proper page layout of the combined image file, based onthe black dot positions stored at the step S295 shown in FIG. 36. Thus,the calculated offset values (m, n) are used at the step S267 in thefile combining procedure of FIG. 33. According to the above-describedembodiment, with the automatic determination of the offset values, theimage processing device 10 can create a combined image file having aproper page layout, from plural document files of the image memory 6 ofthe IPD 10. Further, the combined image file is transmitted from theimage processing device 10 to one of the plurality of external computers11 through the network 12.

In the above-described embodiment, both the file combining process andthe combined image file transmission process are carried out by the CPU2 of the image processing device 10. Alternatively, the file combiningprocess may be carried out by the external computer 11, instead of theCPU 2 of the image processing device 10. In such alternative embodiment,after the combined image file, transmitted by the image processingdevice 10, is received at the external computer 11, the controller ofthe external computer 11 performs the steps S280 through S294 of thefile combining procedure of FIG. 36.

The image processing device, method and system of the present embodimentare effective in enabling the receiver of the image file to immediatelyoverview the contents of the image file or the like, so as to increasethe convenience of the remote scanning capability to the users. Theimage processing device, method and system of the present embodiment areeffective in enabling the receiver's computer to perform variouspost-processing procedures of the image file after the reception of theimage file, in order to increase the convenience of the remote scanningcapability to the users.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 37 throughFIG. 41, of a fifth preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention.

FIG. 37 shows the fifth preferred embodiment of the remote-scan imageprocessing system of the invention. As shown in FIG. 37, the remote-scanimage processing system of the present embodiment is essentially thesame as that of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 29 except that theimage processor 4 of the image processing device 10 of the presentembodiment includes an image compression unit 17. In the imageprocessing system of the present embodiment, the image processing device10 (which will be called the IPD 10), and the plurality of externalcomputers (PC) 11, connected to the image processing device 10 throughthe local area network 12, are provided. In FIG. 37, the elements thatare essentially the same corresponding elements in FIG. 29 aredesignated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereofwill be omitted.

In the image processing system shown in FIG. 37, the image compressionunit 17 produces compressed image data from the image data read by thescanner unit 1 in accordance with the available storage amount of theimage memory 6. When reading image data from a document by using thescanner unit 1, the CPU 2 of the IPD 10 detects whether the availablestorage amount of the image memory 6 is less than the memory spaceneeded to store the read image data. When the available storage amountis less than the needed memory space, the CPU 2 calculates a propercompression ratio and causes the compression unit 17 to produce acompressed image data from the read image data by the calculatedcompression ratio. Therefore, the image data read by the scanner unit 1can safely be stored into the image memory 6 without causing an error inthe image data storage procedure.

FIG. 38 shows an image data storage procedure executed by the CPU 2 ofthe IPD 10 in the image processing system of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 38, at a start of the image data storage procedure, theCPU 2 detects the available storage amount of the image memory 6 (S300).Suppose that the document is set on the contact glass of the scannerunit 1 or the ADF thereof, and the number of pages of the document isinput from the operation unit 7.

The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display the initial menu, asshown in FIG. 5, which contains the scan condition selection list(S301). With the initial menu displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operatorto input the scan condition choice, the destination identifier andothers from the operation unit 7 (S302). The CPU 2 calculates the neededmemory space based on the number of pages of the document and theselected scan condition (S303). The CPU 2 at this time detects whetherthe available storage amount of the image memory 6 is less than thememory space needed to store the read image data. When the availablestorage amount is less than the needed memory space, the CPU 2calculates a proper compression ratio such that it enables the imagememory 6 to store the read image data without causing an error (S304).

For example, suppose that the image reading conditions are: theavailable storage amount of the image memory 6 is 10 Mbytes, thedocument is A4 size and contains 10 pages, the selected scan conditionis 200 dpi, and the images are in color and 8-bit gray scale. In thiscase, the amount of image data read from each page of the document isabout 3.8 Mbytes, and the needed memory space amounts to about 38Mbytes. In the present embodiment, the CPU 2, at the step S304,calculates the minimum compression ratio based on the ratio of theavailable storage amount to the needed memory space, namely, 10Mbytes/38 Mbytes×100=26.3%.

After the step S304 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the operator todepresses the start button in the operation unit 7 to start the scannerunit 1 (S305). The CPU 2 performs the image reading of the document bycontrolling the scanner unit 1 (S306). The CPU 2 causes the imageprocessor 4 to perform given image processing processes of the imagedata read by the scanner unit 1, and causes the image compression unit17 to produce the compressed image data from the image data by using thecompression ratio obtained at the step S304, and causes the image memory6 to store the compressed image data, including the destinationidentifier and others, in the available storage portion of the imagememory 6 (S307). As for the above case, the 26.3% compressed image dataare safely stored in the image memory 6 without causing an error.

After the step S307 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether an end ofthe image reading is detected by the scanner unit 1 (S308). When theresult at step S308 is negative, the control of the CPU 2 is transferredto the step S306. When the result at step S308 is affirmative, the imagedata storage procedure of FIG. 38 is finished.

FIG. 39 shows another image data storage procedure executed by the CPU 2of the IPD 10 in the image processing system of the present embodiment.In the present embodiment, a maximum compression ratio that ispermissible to the image compression unit 17 when the image usage ofimage data is considered is predetermined.

In the present embodiment, an image usage selection list is provided forthe operator to select one of a plurality of image usage items for theimage data read by the scanner unit 1, and maximum compression ratiosare predetermined for the respective image usage items of the selectionlist such that each maximum compression ratio is suited to acorresponding image usage of the image data.

For example, the maximum compression ratios for the respective imageusage items of the selection list such that “1/30” is set for thumbnail(T/N) images, “1/20” is for OCR images and “1/10” is set forhigh-quality reproduction images. An image usage selection menuincluding the image usage selection list is displayed on the displayunit 3 prior to the image reading of the document.

At a start of the image data storage procedure shown in FIG. 39, the CPU2 detects the available storage amount of the image memory 6 (S310).Suppose that the document is set on the contact glass of the scannerunit 1 or the ADF thereof, and the number of pages of the document isinput from the operation unit 7.

The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display the initial menu, asshown in FIG. 5, which contains the scan condition selection list(S311). With the initial menu displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operatorto input the scan condition choice, the destination identifier andothers from the operation unit 7 (S312). The CPU 2 calculates the neededmemory space based on the number of pages of the document and theselected scan condition (S313). The CPU 2 at this time detects whetherthe available storage amount of the image memory 6 is less than thememory space needed to store the read image data. When the availablestorage amount is less than the needed memory space, the CPU 2calculates a proper compression ratio (X) such that it enables the imagememory 6 to store the read image data without causing an error (S314).

After the step S314 is performed, the CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 todisplay the image usage selection menu including the image usageselection list (S315). The CPU 2 causes the operator to select one ofthe plurality of image usage items from the selection list (S316). Afterthe step S316 is performed, the CPU 2 detects the maximum compressionratio (Y) that is predetermined for the selected image usage item(S317).

After the step S317 is performed, the CPU 2 determines whether thecalculated compression ratio (X) is above the maximum compression ratio(Y) (S318). When the result at step S318 is negative (X<Y), the CPU 2selects the calculated compression ratio (X) (S319). In this case, theimage data storage process would cause no error, and the CPU 2 allowsthe image reading of the document to be performed by using the scannerunit 1 (S320). After the step S320 is performed, the control of the CPU2 is transferred to the step S305 shown in FIG. 38.

When the result at step S318 is affirmative (X≧Y), the amount of thecompressed image data obtained with the maximum compression ratio isexcessively large, and the image data storage process would cause anoverflow of the image data in the image memory 6. The CPU 2 determineswhether the operator accepts partial image reading of the document bythe scanner unit 1 and the image data compression with the maximumcompression ratio (S321).

When the result at step S321 is affirmative, the CPU 2 selects themaximum compression ratio (Y) (S322). The CPU 2 allows the image readingof the document to be performed by using the scanner unit 1 (S323).After the step S323 is performed, the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S305 shown in FIG. 38.

When the result at step S321 is negative, the CPU 2 rejects the imagereading of the document by the scanner unit 1 (S324). After the stepS324 is performed, the procedure of FIG. 39 is finished.

FIG. 40 shows another image data storage procedure executed by the CPU 2of the IPD 10 in the image processing system of the present embodiment.In the present embodiment, a minimum compression ratio that ispermissible to the image compression unit 17 is predetermined regardlessof which image usage of the image data is selected.

At a start of the image data storage procedure shown in FIG. 40, the CPU2 detects the available storage amount of the image memory 6 (S330).Suppose that the document is set on the contact glass of the scannerunit 1 or the ADF thereof, and the number of pages of the document isinput from the operation unit 7.

The CPU 2 causes the display unit 3 to display the initial menu, asshown in FIG. 5, which contains the scan condition selection list(S331). With the initial menu displayed, the CPU 2 causes the operatorto input the scan condition choice, the destination identifier andothers from the operation unit 7 (S332). The CPU 2 calculates the neededmemory space based on the number of pages of the document and theselected scan condition (S333). The CPU 2 at this time detects whetherthe available storage amount of the image memory 6 is less than thememory space needed to store the read image data. When the availablestorage amount is less than the needed memory space, the CPU 2calculates a proper compression ratio (X) such that it enables the imagememory 6 to store the read image data without causing an error (S334).

After the step S334 is performed, the CPU 2 detects the minimumcompression ratio (Z) that is predetermined (S335). The CPU 2 determineswhether the calculated compression ratio (X) is above the minimumcompression ratio (Z) (S336). When the result at step S336 is negative(X<Z), the CPU 2 selects the minimum compression ratio (Z) (S338). Inthis case, the image data storage process would cause no error, and thecontrol of the CPU 2 is transferred to the step S305 shown in FIG. 38.

When the result at step S336 is affirmative (X≧Z), the CPU 2 selects thecalculated compression ratio (X) (S337). In this case, the image datastorage process would cause no error, and the control of the CPU 2 istransferred to the step S305 shown in FIG. 38.

In the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, theIPD 10 stores the image data, read from documents, into the image memory6 of the IPD 10 and transmits an image file, derived from the storedimage data of the image memory 6 and containing the destinationidentifier and other identifiers, to one of the plurality of externalcomputers (PC) 11 through the network 12. The present invention is notlimited to the above-described embodiment. Alternatively, one of theplurality of external computers 11 on the network 12 may perform theimage data storage process in place of the IPD 10.

FIG. 41 shows an image data storage procedure performed in oneembodiment of the image processing system of the invention.

In the image processing system shown in FIG. 41, a plurality of imageprocessing devices (IPD) 10 and a plurality of external computers (PC)11 are connected together via the local area network 12 (for example,the Ethernet). The plurality of external computers 11 on the network 12include a server 11 a that receives and stores image data sent by one ofthe IPDs 10, and transmits the stored image data to another externalcomputer 11 through the network 12. Alternatively, two or more among theplurality of external computers 11 may be predetermined as being theservers 11 a.

As shown in FIG. 41, in the image processing system of the presentembodiment, one of the IPDs 10 reads the image data from documents byusing the scanner unit 1, and transmits an image file, derived from theimage data and containing the destination identifier and otheridentifiers, to the server 11 a through the network 12. The server 11 areceives and temporarily stores the image data sent by the one of theIPDs 10, and transmits the stored image data to the destination PC 11through the network 12.

In the present embodiment, the image processing system can utilize thestorage capacity of the external computer 11 a, provided as the server,to store a very large amount of image data, which exceeds the availablestorage amount of the image memory 6 of the IPD 10. According to thepresent embodiment, the IPD 10 can read a very large amount of imagedata from documents, which exceeds the available storage amount of theimage memory 6 of the IPD 10, and transmit the image data to the server11 a through the network 12.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments,and variations and modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An image processing device, comprising: ascanner to scan a document; a network interface; a display device; and aprocessing circuit configured to set, in response to user operationswhich are respectively input by a user via one or more display screensdisplayed on the display, a destination to be sent an image filegenerated from the scanned document among a plurality of destinations,one or more scan condition settings for scanning, and a first file nameto indicate the image file, control the scanner to scan the document inaccordance with the one or more scan condition settings which have beenset, generate, from the document which has been scanned by the scanner,one or more image files in accordance with a predetermined file format,the one or more image files being indicated by a second file nameautomatically set by the processing circuit including the first filename which has been set based on the input by the user, and send,through the network interface, the generated one or more image files tothe destination which has been set.
 2. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the processing circuit sets the destination,the one or more scan condition settings, and the first file name inresponse to the user operations which are respectively input via each ofa plurality of the display screens displayed on the display.
 3. Theimage processing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processingcircuit sets the destination in response to a user operation via adestination setting screen, sets the one or more scan condition settingsin response to a user operation via a scan condition setting screen, andsets the first file name in response to a user operation via a file namesetting screen.
 4. The image processing device as claimed in claim 3,wherein the file name setting screen includes an initial file name whenthe file name setting screen is first displayed on the display device.5. The image processing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondfile name includes the first file name and a scanner counter value. 6.The image processing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein theprocessing circuit sets the initial file name to the first file name, ifan OK button is selected by a user during displaying the initial filename on the file name setting screen.
 7. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the second file name includes the first filename and a scanner counter value.
 8. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the processing circuit generates the one ormore image files by generating one image file per one page of thedocument.
 9. The image processing device as claimed in claim 8, whereineach file name of the one or more image files includes the first filename and a different number per page.
 10. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the second file name includes the first filename and a scanner counter value.
 11. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the second file name includes the first filename and an extension name of the one or more image files.
 12. The imageprocessing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a memory tostore the one or more image files that have been generated; and whereinthe processing circuit is further configured to control the memory tostore the one or more image files that have been generated, and send theone or more image files stored in the memory to the destination.
 13. Theimage processing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second filename includes the first file name and a scanner counter value.
 14. Theimage processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processingcircuit controls the scanner to start scanning the document when a startbutton is selected by a user.
 15. The image processing device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the processing circuit generates the one or moreimage files by generating one image file per one page of the document.16. The image processing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein eachfile name of the one or more image files includes the first file nameand a different number per page.
 17. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the second file name includes the first filename and a scanner counter value.
 18. The image processing device asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the scanner counter value indicates ascanner page counter value.
 19. The image processing device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the second file name includes the first file nameand an extension name of the one or more image files.
 20. An imageprocessing method, comprising: setting, in response to user operationswhich are respectively input by a user via one or more display screensdisplayed on a display, a destination to be sent an image file among aplurality of destinations, one or more scan condition settings forscanning by a scanner, and a first file name to indicate the image file;controlling the scanner to scan a document in accordance with the one ormore scan condition settings; generating, from the document which hasbeen scanned, one or more image files in accordance with a predeterminedfile format, the one or more image files being indicated by a secondfile name automatically set by a processing circuit and including thefirst file name which has been set based on the input by the user,controlling the network interface to send the generated one or moreimage files to the destination which has been set.
 21. The imageprocessing method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the setting is inresponse to user operations which are respectively input via each of aplurality of the display screens.
 22. The image processing method asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the setting the destination is in responseto a user operation via a destination setting screen, the setting theone or more scan condition settings is in response to a user operationvia a scan condition setting screen, and the setting the first file nameis in response to a user operation via a file name setting screen. 23.The image processing method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the settingan initial file name to the first file name is in response to an OKbutton being selected by a user during displaying the initial file nameon the file name setting screen.
 24. The image processing method asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the generating the one or more image filesis by generating one image file per one page of the document.